The Most Psychologically Disturbing Movies Ever
Not necessarily the best or goriest movies, but the most disturbing. This isn't the most gruesome, but the most emotionally traumatizing.
What am I missing?
(Note: I don't count movies like Seed or Cannibal Holocaust, because they contain actual footage of violence. I consider that disturbing in a documentary sense. We're talking movies that are disturbing despite being strictly fake violence.)
What am I missing?
(Note: I don't count movies like Seed or Cannibal Holocaust, because they contain actual footage of violence. I consider that disturbing in a documentary sense. We're talking movies that are disturbing despite being strictly fake violence.)
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- DirectorSrdjan SpasojevicStarsSrdjan 'Zika' TodorovicSergej TrifunovicJelena GavrilovicAn aging porn star agrees to participate in an "art film" in order to make a clean break from the business, only to discover that he has been drafted into making a pedophilia and necrophilia themed snuff film.The most disturbing movie I've ever seen. I will never watch it again. Seriously, even veteran horror movie fans will be shocked by this one. If you're not sure if you are one, don't watch it.
- DirectorAlexandre BustilloJulien MauryStarsAlysson ParadisJean-Baptiste TabourinClaude LuléFour months after the death of her husband, a woman on the brink of motherhood is tormented in her home by a strange woman who wants her unborn baby.One of the most relentlessly brutal movies I've ever seen.
- DirectorBrian YuznaStarsWilliam MillerIrene MontalàPaulina GálvezDante travels across a desolate, futuristic Spain in search of his girlfriend, Ula. He is pursued by a bloodthirsty, cybernetic Rottweiler.This one is just emotionally brutal, there's no light at the end of the tunnel here.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsThomas JaneMarcia Gay HardenLaurie HoldenA freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.That ending will ruin your week.
- DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsBilly DragoShihô HarumiMichiéIn the 1800s, an American returns to Japan to find the prostitute he fell in love with, but instead learns of the physical and existential horror that befell her after he left.Plotwise this one kind of goes off the rails at the end, but that doesn't change the fact that the needle torture scene is absolutely jaw-dropping.
- DirectorBanjong PisanthanakunParkpoom WongpoomStarsAnanda EveringhamNatthaweeranuch ThongmeeAchita SikamanaA young photographer and his girlfriend discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after a tragic accident. They soon learn that you can not escape your past.One of the most perfectly chilling endings I've ever seen.
- DirectorJames WatkinsStarsKelly ReillyMichael FassbenderTara EllisRefusing to let anything spoil their romantic weekend break, a young couple confront a gang of loutish youths with terrifyingly brutal consequences.I don't particularly like this movie, but man it was disturbing, I'll give them that.
- 2001–2002TV-146.6 (116)TV EpisodeDirectorNick GomezMichael W. WatkinsStarsLuke PerrySherilyn FennHart BochnerA psychiatrist has the ability to absorb people's mental illnesses, but can he help a seemingly possessed child? / An unhappy wife comes to believe that the used car her husband bought her is possessed by the spirit of a young woman.I can't find this one anywhere, but it stands out to me as one of the most psychologically disturbing episodes of a show that I've ever laid eyes on.
- DirectorPascal LaugierStarsMorjana AlaouiMylène JampanoïCatherine BéginA young woman's quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child leads her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity.My favorite horror movie. Brilliant and disturbing. I don't know what it was, but the end left me almost shaking.
- DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsKen'ichi EndôShungiku UchidaKazushi WatanabeA troubled and perverted family find their lives intruded by a mysterious stranger who seems to help find a balance in their disturbing natures.Good lord. You wont want to eat a dairy product for like a week after watching this. You guys who have seen it know what I mean. :P
- DirectorDaisuke YamanouchiStarsHiroshi KitasenjuSheena NagamoriMayumi OokawaFour random people (including a married couple) volunteer to participate in a mysterious game for a chance to win 10 million yen. They have to take turns torturing their fellow players until only one is left.A little cheesy, but that ending was brutal!
- DirectorFruit ChanStarsBai LingMiriam Chin-Wah YeungSum-Yeung WongAunt Mei's famous homemade dumplings provide amazing age-defying qualities popular with middle-aged women. But her latest customer - a fading actress - is determined to find out what the secret ingredient is.Not often I watch a movie that makes me dry heave.
- DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsKoji YakushoTakayuki YamadaYûsuke IseyaA group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord.There's a scene about 20 minutes in that brought tears to my eyes. Not a horror movie, but some truly, truly disturbing scenes.
- DirectorJohn BoormanStarsJon VoightBurt ReynoldsNed BeattyIntent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it's dammed and turned into a lake, outdoor fanatic Lewis Medlock takes his friends on a canoeing trip they'll never forget into the dangerous American back-country.There are more graphic rape scenes out there, but this is one of the most disturbing to me.
- DirectorJohn Erick DowdleStarsStacy ChboskyBen MessmerSamantha RobsonIn an abandoned house in Poughkeepsie, New York murder investigators uncover hundreds of tapes showing decades of a serial killer's work.I read somewhere that they wired up the test audiences, and picked out the scenes that caused the greatest fear reaction. Either way, it's still brilliant. Good luck finding it, though.
- DirectorUwe BollStarsBrendan FletcherShaun SiposMichael ParéA man with a thirst for revenge builds a full body armor from Kevlar and goes on a killing spree.I can't believe this is by Uwe Boll. It's amazing.
- DirectorJeff CrookJosh CrookStarsLauren Currie LewisChris FerryCody DarbeClaire Parker is going to die at the hands of a sadistic and depraved killer, she will endure a terrifying, unimaginable brutal death, and it will all happen again, and again.All that more amazing because it's a low-budget movie. Proves you don't need money to be disturbing. One of the best twist endings ever!
- DirectorJaume Collet-SerraStarsChad Michael MurrayParis HiltonElisha CuthbertA group of teens are unwittingly stranded near a strange wax museum and soon must fight to survive and keep from becoming the next exhibit.Brutal and surprisingly good, despite Paris Hilton's involvement.
- DirectorFruit ChanPark Chan-wookTakashi MiikeStarsBai LingLee Byung-hunKyoko HasegawaAn Asian cross-cultural trilogy of horror films from accomplished indie directors.Ranging from gruesome to haunting, all good and disturbing films.
- DirectorStuart GordonStarsChris McKennaKari WuhrerGeorge WendtA young drifter discovers his true calling when he's hired by a mobster to stalk and kill a prominent accountant, and then decides to seek revenge when the stingy thugs try to kill him rather than pay him.Relentlessly brutal. One of the main characters hallucinations was amazingly horrifying. A must watch for horror fans.
- DirectorBrett LeonardStarsAlex O'LoughlinPatrick ThompsonGabby MillgateA cybercrime investigator tracks a man suspected of force-feeding women to death.Wow. If you aren't at least a little disturbed watching the first five minutes...
- DirectorRupert JulianLon ChaneyErnst LaemmleStarsLon ChaneyMary PhilbinNorman KerryA mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer.Not disturbing in the modern sense, but a classic nonetheless, and the definitive Phantom of the Opera movie, that has yet to be equaled. Movie theaters actually had to stock smelling salts, because people passed out from fear at the unmasking scene!
- DirectorSean EllisStarsLena HeadeyUlrich ThomsenMelvil PoupaudAfter seeing herself drive down the street, Radiologist Gina McVey unravels a mystery centered around a broken mirror.Again, this isn't a list of the goriest, and this isn't one of them. Not much violence, but there are some chilling scenes in this, at least in a psychological sense.
- DirectorJulie TaymorStarsAnthony HopkinsJessica LangeOsheen JonesTitus returns victorious from war, only to plant the seeds of future turmoil for himself and his family.Not a horror film per se, but it's almost unrelentingly brutal. Makes me laugh at the people who think Shakespeare is boring and lofty. :D
- DirectorKevin TenneyStarsCathy PodewellAlvin AlexisHal HavinsTen teenagers party at an abandoned funeral parlor on Halloween night. When an evil force awakens, demonic spirits keep them from leaving and turn their gathering into a living Hell.I have to include this, just for the lipstick scene. Don't know what I'm talking about? Just go watch it. >:D
- DirectorDavid SladeStarsPatrick WilsonElliot PageSandra OhHayley's a smart, charming teenage girl. Jeff's a handsome, smooth fashion photographer. An Internet chat, a coffee shop meet-up, an impromptu fashion shoot back at Jeff's place. Jeff thinks it's his lucky night. He's in for a surprise.I personally didn't like this movie, but props to them for making it one hell of a disturbing film!
- DirectorRob ZombieStarsSid HaigSheri Moon ZombieBill MoseleyThe murderous, backwoods Firefly family take to the road to escape the vengeful Sheriff Wydell, who is not afraid of being as ruthless as his target.Some impressively disturbing moments.
- DirectorTaylor SheridanStarsEric Jay BeckApril MatsonAkeem SmithFour friends are kidnapped by a madman and locked in a house with six other people. Each of the captives has to endure life-threatening torture to fill a device attached to their heads or they will be trapped inside forever.I consider this one mediocre, but that opening scene is seriously f'ed up! Good ending too.
- DirectorBrad AndersonStarsDavid CarusoStephen GevedonPaul GuilfoyleTensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific past that seems to be coming back.A superb example of psychological horror. Very good.
- DirectorAntti-Jussi AnnilaStarsVille VirtanenTommi EronenViktor KlimenkoAs a 25-year war between Russia and Sweden concludes, two brothers who are part of an effort to outline new border accords become undone by their actions, and their mistreatment of a young woman during their journey.I'm not even sure what to say about this one, but never has disturbing been so beautiful.
- DirectorAgnieszka Wojtowicz-VoslooStarsChristina RicciLiam NeesonJustin LongAfter a car accident, a young woman caught between life and death meets a funeral director who claims to have the gift of transitioning the dead into the afterlife.A brilliantly underrated film. Chilling.
- DirectorJaume Collet-SerraStarsVera FarmigaPeter SarsgaardIsabelle FuhrmanA husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she appears.Man, that chick is messed up!
- DirectorMikael HåfströmStarsColin O'DonoghueAnthony HopkinsCiarán HindsAmerican seminary student Michael Kovak travels to Italy to take an exorcism course.I thought this one sucked, until Anthony Hopkins showed up. One of the best exorcism scenes I've ever seen.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.If I have to tell you why this movie is disturbing, you haven't seen it, lol.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsNicolas CageJoaquin PhoenixJames GandolfiniA private investigator is hired to discover if a "snuff film" is authentic or not.This might be mainstream, but man, there's some pretty emotionally disturbing parts in it.
- DirectorNicole KassellStarsKevin BaconKyra SedgwickYasiin BeyA child molester returns to his hometown after 12 years in prison and attempts to start a new life.Again, not a horror movie, but if Mos Def's scene about why he hates pedophiles doesn't mess you up a little bit I don't know what to say.
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsEllen BurstynJared LetoJennifer ConnellyThe drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island people are shattered when their addictions run deep..My favorite movie ever. Not a horror movie, but emotionally brutal. If you haven't seen it, watch it. Right now.
- DirectorCraig ZobelStarsAnn DowdDreama WalkerPat HealyA normal Friday service at a fast food restaurant becomes interrupted by a police officer who claims an employee stole from a customer, but something more sinister is going on.Amazing how a movie with no violence at all can, on some level, be more disturbing than many blood-soaked horror movies. Profoundly uncomfortable to watch.
- DirectorJoel AndersonStarsRosie TraynorDavid PledgerMartin SharpeStrange things start happening after a girl is found drowned in a lake.I don't know if you'd classify this as a horror movie or not, but the scene where you find out what's on the cell phone footage gave me chills that just wouldn't go away.